How To Tell Your Dog That You Love Them in Ways They Will Understand

Owning a dog is one of the greatest joys in life—they have so much love to give, they offer comfort, playfulness, and an innate level of understanding. Learning how to reciprocate their unbounding loyalty can build an even stronger bond between you and your pet. Here are some helpful tips to spread the love!

EAR RUBS

Most dogs love ear rubs! Their ears are full of nerve endings and rubbing them releases endorphins, making them feel good.

HAND FEEDING

Feeding your dog by hand shows that you’re a food provider—very important for a pack animal. This helps create a strong bond, especially for puppies. Don’t overdo it and don’t allow any sign of food grabbing or aggression. Use feeding by hand as an opportunity to teach dog patience.

USE WORDS OF PRAISE AND AFFECTION

Our furry friends listen to our tone, and see our body language, to tell him that you love him, and mean it!

PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT HE OR SHE IS “SAYING”

Learn how dogs communicate and relate to them that way. For example, most dogs don’t like being hugged. Don’t approach them directly. Don’t expect them to like strangers. Knowing how they communicate will help them feel less stressed and they will associate you with those feelings.

LEANING

Dogs lean on people because they want to be close to them. By nature, dogs are social animals. Most dogs enjoy physical contact with their humans. Check out our article on why dogs lean on you here, to learn more.

RAISE YOUR EYEBROWS

Don’t stare, that’s intimidating to a dog. Eye contact with soft expressions are read as positive and caring by your pet.

GROOMING + MASSAGE

Petting releases oxytocin which make them feel good.

TRAINING

Using positive reinforcement shows that you care for your dog. Use food, praise, and play, which are things dogs like, and helps him to understand how you feel about him.

PLAY + SPEND TIME

Another thing that most dogs love, they have fun and will enjoy being with you. Bonding with him occurs naturally, but it takes time from you.

While most of these tips are second-nature to dog owners, they’re great to keep in mind, especially if your dog is new to the family, and to ensure your pal is living their best life!